While warning the nation of the escalating potential of conflict with Russia, Sir Richard Knighton stressed that the U.K.’s defence “cannot be outsourced to the armed forces,” and called on young citizens to step up.
He went as far as urging teenagers and graduates to ditch the corporate careers they may have been studying for, to join the military and help “meet the demands in the U.K. and of our allies to re-stock and re-arm.”
The head of the military even asked parents to actively steer their children toward careers in defence.
“We need defence and political leaders to explain the importance of the industry to the nation, and we need schools and parents to encourage children and young adults to take up careers in the industry.”
Asking Gen Zers to do a career-180 and enter the arms industry is a tall order—but the U.K. government is putting its money where its mouth is. The nation is rolling out a new initiative to train teenagers as young as 16 in military technology.
He just announced that the U.K. government will invest £50 million ($66.7 million) into new defence technical excellence colleges (TECs).
It’s an intentional strategy to not only develop in-demand skills domestically, but also ensure that graduates have a better shot at employment—a much-needed opportunity as the country grapples with alarming Gen Z joblessness.
As white-collar jobs are in short supply, the U.K. government’s push for more Gen Zers to enter the arms industry could be a welcome one.
The country is rewriting the norm that a cushy office job is the only failsafe career. And as the government looks to expand its defense capabilities and job opportunities, Gen Z could find greater success pivoting from the corporate job hunt.
